Elymus sinicus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes absent, or short. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 60–90 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades involute; 6–22 cm long; 3–7 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 8–13 cm long. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 13–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent. Floret callus hairs 0.1–0.4 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate, or oblong; 13–15 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute; muticous, or awned. Lower glume awn 1–3 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate, or oblong; 13–15 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute; muticous, or awned. Upper glume awn 1–3 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; 9 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight, or curved; 10–18 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface puberulous; hairy on back; hairy above. Palea apex emarginate, or truncate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl China 2007.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.